Three card blackjack

ABSTRACT

A blackjack variation that can be played in a casino. A player is dealt three initial cards and the player can then choose two out of the three cards as the player&#39;s initial hand and the dealer is dealt two cards. The blackjack game can then proceed normally using the chosen two cards. The player must also place a side bet based on a poker hand comprising the three initial cards and the dealer&#39;s upcard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to a casino table game, and moreparticularly, to a variation of casino blackjack.

2. Description of the Related Art

Casino games are currently a billion dollar industry. Blackjack iscurrently a popular table game, although its popularity has beenrecently decreasing.

What is needed is a new game which can provide players with a moreexciting game than a standard blackjack game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide exciting variationsof blackjack that can be played in casinos.

The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a)receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; (b) dealing the playerthree initial player cards; (c) allowing the player to select a player'sinitial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial playercards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is acard from the three initial player cards not used in the initialblackjack hand; (d) revealing a dealer's upcard; (e) determining a rankof a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards; (f)resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable; (g)completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack handand the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and(h) resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.

The above aspects can also be obtained by an apparatus that includes (a)an output device; and (b) a processing unit using the output device andperforming: (i) receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; (ii)dealing the player three initial player cards; (iii) allowing the playerto select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of thethree initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select adiscard card which is a card from the three initial player cards notused in the initial blackjack hand; (iv) revealing a dealer's upcard;(v) determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initialplayer cards; (vi) resolving the poker wager based on the rank using apaytable; (vii) completing a blackjack hand using the player's initialblackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which isrevealed; and (viii) resolving the blackjack wager based on a result ofthe completing.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention,will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing ablackjack variation game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary table layout to implement a blackjack variationgame, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3A is an exemplary first state of a sample game, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3B is an exemplary second state of a sample game, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3C is an exemplary third state of a sample game, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3D is an exemplary fourth state of a sample game, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3E is an exemplary fifth state of a sample game, according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram of hardware that can be used toimplement an electronic embodiment;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, andcomputer readable storage which allows a casino to offer to player(s) ablackjack game which can provide a player with more excitement than astandard game.

This can be accomplished by a blackjack variation in which the playermust make two mandatory and equal bets, a blackjack wager and a pokerwager. The player is dealt three initial cards, upon which the playercan select two out of the three cards as the player's initial blackjackhand. This would give the player a large advantage, so the poker wagerwould typically have a house advantage to offset the player advantage onthe blackjack wager. Once the player has chosen his initial blackjackhand (two cards of the three initial cards), the dealer's upcard canthen be revealed. The poker wager pays based on a rank of a poker handmade from dealt cards, such as the players initial three cards and thedealer's upcard. Then the blackjack game can continue as a normalblackjack game, using the blackjack hand (two cards) the player haschosen as the player's starting cards. The player can then proceed asnormal, e.g., hit, stand, double, split, etc., after the dealer's upcardhas been revealed. When the player (and other players at the table) havefinished playing his or her hand, the dealer can then play out thedealer's hand according to house rules (e.g., the dealer can hit untilthe dealer has a point total of 17 or more, with the optional exceptionthat the dealer may also hit soft 17). The player may also have theoption to take insurance when the dealer's upcard is an ace.

Thus, the game described herein provides excitement to the player inthat the player can select two cards out of three in order to improvehis or her hand. Thus, the player will typically do well on theblackjack portion of the game, typically providing the player with afeeling of success and excitement.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing ablackjack variation game, according to an embodiment.

The method can begin with operation 100, which receives, from theplayer, a blackjack wager, and a poker wager. The blackjack wager andthe poker wager should be equal amounts, although in a alternateembodiment these wagers may not be equal (e.g. one could be a multipleof the other).

From operation 100, the method can proceed to operation 102, which dealsthree initial player cards face down to each player and deals a dealer'supcard and a dealer's downcard, both face down. Note the upcard will berevealed later but is dealt face down initially (although in analternative embodiment the upcard can be initially dealt face up).

From operation 102, the method can proceed to operation 104, whichallows the player to examine his or her three initial player cards andselect two out of these three cards as the initial blackjack hand.Typically, this is done without the player knowing what the dealer'supcard is, although in an alternate embodiment, the player may see thedealer's upcard before making this decision.

From operation 104, the method can proceed to operation 106, wherein thedealer's upcard is revealed (turned face up).

From operation 106, the method can proceed to operation 108, whichdetermines a rank of a poker hand formed from the three initial playercards and the dealer's upcard, and resolves the poker wager.Alternatively, other combinations of cards can be used form the pokerhand, such as only the player's initial three cards, the player'sinitial three cards and the dealer's downcard, the player's initialthree cards and both the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard, theplayer's initial blackjack hand, the player's initial blackjack hand andthe dealer's downcard, the player's initial blackjack hand and thedealer's upcard, the player's initial blackjack hand and both thedealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard, the player's discard and thedealer's upcard, the player's discard and the dealer's downcard, theplayer's discard and both the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard,etc.

After the rank is determined, if it is a winning rank according to thepaytable being used, then the player is paid according to the paytable'smultiple based on the player's poker wager. If the rank is a losing rank(e.g. nothing), then the player's poker wager is taken by the dealer.

From operation 108, the method can proceed to operation 110, whichcontinues the blackjack game using the initial blackjack hand (twocards) for the player and the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downwardfor the dealer. The player, after seeing the dealer's upcard, can decidehow to play his or her hand, such as hit, stand, double, split, etc.

From operation 110, the method can proceed to operation 112, which takesor pays the blackjack wager based on a result of the blackjack game.

It is noted that the order of operations described above can beperformed in any sensible order. For example, the poker wager can beresolved after the blackjack wager is resolved, or at any other time.

Table I illustrates an exemplary set of rules for an embodiment of ablackjack variation game.

TABLE I 1. The blackjack game uses the following rules: Player maydouble on any two initial cards. Player may double after splitting.Dealer must hit soft 17. Player may split up to 3 times (4 hand total).Aces can only be split one time and receive on card each. Blackjack pays3:2. The game uses six decks. 2. Player places bets of equal size on ablackjack wager betting circle and a poker hand wager betting circle. 3.Three initial player cards are dealt to the player face down. Two cardsare dealt to the dealer, face down. 4. The player sets his or her handby selecting two cards out of the three initial player cards as theblackjack hand and places these two cards face up into a blackjack box.A discard card (the third card from the three initial player cards notused in the blackjack hand) is placed face up in a discard box. 5. Afterall players have set their hand (made their decisions and placed theircards), the dealer turns over the dealer's upcard. 6. A poker hand isformed from the four cards comprising the three initial player cards andthe dealer's upcard. The rank of the poker hand is determined and thepoker hand wager is taken or paid based on the rank using a paytable. 7.After all of the poker hand wagers have been resolved, the cards in allof the discard boxes are collected by the dealer and placed in thediscard tray. 8. The player now plays blackjack with the blackjack hand(two cards) against the dealer.

Note that Table I illustrates one exemplary set of rules, but othermodifications to these rules, as known in the art, could be employed aswell. For example, any number of decks can be used (e.g. 1-8 or more).The dealer may stand on soft 17. The player may be allowed tosplit/resplit a particular number of times (e.g. 1-6, etc.) Any knownset of blackjack rules can be used for the blackjack component of thegame described herein.

Table II below illustrates different types of poker hands.

TABLE II Player's hand Description Example(s) Suited four of a kind Fourcards of identical suit 8S 8S 8S 8S Royal flush Four sequential cards ofthe JH QH KH AH same suit, with ace as a high card Straight flush Foursequential cards of the 3C 4C 5C 6C same suit, non-ace high Four of akind Four cards of equal rank, QD QH QS QC but not all of the same suit4D 4D 4D 4H Flush Four cards of the same suit, 6D 7D 8D JD but not allof the same rank, 3S 3S 3S AS and not in sequence 4S 4S 6S 6S StraightFour cards in sequence, but 5C 6C 7D 8S not all the same suit Three of akind Three cards of the same 4D KD KH KH rank and on card of a 7C TS TSTS different rank. Cards not all the same suit Two pairs Two pairs ofcards. Cards JH JS AS AD not all the same suit. Pairs must be ofdifferent ranks. Jacks or better pair One pair of cards of rank J, 4D QDQS AS Q, K, or A. Cards not all the same suit. Low pair One pair ofcards of rank 2– 9C 9S TD AS T (ten). Cards not all the same suitNothing A hand without a pair, not 4D 5S QC KD all of the same suit, andnot in sequence

Table III below illustrates three different exemplary payout schedules(paytables), for the poker wager each with their own house edge. TableIII assumes the poker hand is made of four cards. Table III is based onthe rules enumerated in Table I.

TABLE III PLAYER'S HAND PAYOUT 1 PAYOUT 2 PAYOUT 3 Suited four of a kind100 25 10 Royal flush 50 15 10 Straight flush 25 10 10 Four of a kind 158 10 Flush 10 2 10 Straight 8 5 10 Three of a kind 4 1 3 Two pair 3 1 3Jacks or better pair 1 1 1 Low pair −1 0 (push) −1 Nothing −1 −1 −1House edge 37.4745% 37.2274% 38.0064%

Table IV below illustrates a net house edge for each of the threepaytables illustrated in Table III. Note that the net house edge is thesum of the poker hand house edge and the blackjack wager house edge.Thus, for example, using paytable 1 (“payout 1”), the house edge on thegame is 3.4894% taking into consideration both the two wagers. Thusassumes optimal strategy by the player on the blackjack wager, andtypically players will not play using perfect optimal strategy.

TABLE IV Poker hand poker hand 3 card BJ Net paytable house edge houseedge house edge Payout 1 37.3915% −33.9021% 3.4894% Payout 2 37.2274%−33.9021%  3.253% Payout 3 38.0064% −33.9021% 4.1043%

FIG. 2 is an exemplary table layout to implement a blackjack variationgame, according to an embodiment.

A dealer's cards area 200 is used to place the dealer's cards (e.g. thedealer's upcard, the dealer's downcard, and any cards the dealer maydraw). A player blackjack wager betting circle 204 is used by the playerto place chips for the blackjack wager, and a poker wager betting circle208 is used by the player to place chips for the poker wager. Ablackjack box 202 is used by the player (or dealer after the playermakes his or her selections known) to set the cards the player hasselected for the initial blackjack hand, and a discard box 206 is usedby the player (or dealer) to set the discard. The other five players canuse their respective elements similarly. Of course, FIG. 2 merelyillustrates one example of a table layout, and other layouts can be usedas well. The table can also accommodate other amounts of players besidessix (e.g. 1-10 or more). In this example, the dealer stands on all 17's,although in an alternate embodiment the dealer may hit on a soft 17.

An example of a game will now be presented. Of course, the followingexample is merely just one example of an almost infinite number of gamesequences which can occur. Assume the player wagers $1 on the blackjackwager and $1 on the poker wager.

FIG. 3A is an exemplary first state of a sample game, according to anembodiment. The player is dealt three initial cards 300, a ten of clubs,a nine of hearts, and an eight of spades. The cards can be dealt face upor face down (as long as the respective player is allowed to look atthem). An initial dealer's hand 302 is also dealt face down, whichcomprises a dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard. Note that the cardreferred to as the dealer's upcard can still be dealt face downinitially, as it will be turned over later. FIG. 3A corresponds tooperation 102 from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is an exemplary second state of a sample game, according to anembodiment. After reviewing the three initial cards 300, the player thensets his or her hand by choosing which two cards will comprise theplayer's initial blackjack hand 304 and a discard card 306. The playerin this case has chosen the ten of clubs and nine of hearts as theinitial blackjack hand 304, and these cards can be put inside theblackjack box 202 from FIG. 2. This is the proper play because the pointtotal is 19, while choosing the ten of clubs and the eight of spadeswould make a point total of 18, and choosing the nine of hearts and theeight of spades would make a point total of 17. The object for theplayer in blackjack is to make as high of a point total as possiblewithout exceeding 21. Thus, 19 is the best possible point total theplayer can make in this situation. Thus, the discard card 306 is theeight of spades, and this card can be put inside the discard box 206from FIG. 2. Note that the uses of either or both of the blackjack box202 and the discard box 206 may be optional, depending on an embodimentbeing implemented. FIG. 3B corresponds to operation 104 from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3C is an exemplary third state of a sample game, according to anembodiment. The dealer's upcard 313 is now revealed to the player(s)(the jack of spades) while the dealer's downcard 314 remains face down.FIG. 3C corresponds to operation 106 from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3D is an exemplary fourth state of a sample game, according to anembodiment. The player now has the opportunity to play out the player'sinitial blackjack hand 316, e.g., the player can hit, stand, double,split (if possible), or also take insurance (if the dealer has an aceshowing). etc. In this case, since the player has a point total of 19,the player makes the correct play of standing (keeping his or her cardswithout taking another card which could cause the player to “bust” byexceeding 21). The player can play out his or her hand with knowledge ofthe dealer's upcard 313. Regardless of what the player has, in thisparticular case, the player should stand (although in other caseswhether the player chooses to hit, stand, or other options, may dependon the dealer's upcard). This corresponds to operation 106 from FIG. 1.

Now that the upcard is revealed, all the cards are known to form a fourcard poker hand comprised of the player's three initial cards and thedealer's upcard. Note that these cards are: ten of clubs, nine ofhearts, eight of spades, jack of spades. Note that this hand isconsidered a straight. Thus, for example, using payout I from Table III,a straight pays 8:1, thus the player would win $8 (and his original $1wager would also be returned to him for a total of $9 in chips). Thiscorresponds to operation 108 from FIG. 1.

When the player is done playing out his or her hand, the dealer thenturns of the dealer's downcard 320. In this case, the downcard isrevealed which is a five of clubs. This occurs during operation 110 fromFIG. 1.

FIG. 3E is an exemplary fifth state of a sample game, according to anembodiment. After the player has played out his or her hand, the dealerthen plays out the dealer's hand. This is done according to a standardset of house rules, e.g. the dealer continues to hit until the dealerreaches a point total of 17 (the dealer may optionally hit a soft 17according to the house rules). In this example, the dealers initial hand320 comprises a point total of 15, thus the dealer hits. The dealerdraws a seven of diamonds, giving the dealer a point total of 22. Thedealer has busted since the dealer has a point total of more than 21.Thus, the player has won the blackjack wager. Thus, the player is paid$1 on his or her blackjack wager (and the original $1 blackjack wager isalso returned to the player). FIG. 3E occurs during operations 110 and112 from Figure.

It is noted that the operations described above can be performed innumerous orders. For example, the poker wager can be resolved at anypoint in the game when all of the cards that are needed in the pokerhand are known (e.g. if the poker hand uses the dealer's upcard, whenthe upcard is revealed). Thus, the poker wager can be resolved after theblackjack hand is resolved, or just before it is resolved, or at anyother point.

In a further embodiment, a game as described herein can be played on anelectronic device, such as an electronic gaming machine (EGM). The gamecan also be played over a computer communications network, such as theInternet, and can also be offered at online casinos.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram of hardware that can be used toimplement an electronic embodiment.

A processing unit 404 can be connected to an output unit 400 (e.g. aCRT, LCD, etc.), an input unit 402 (e.g. a touch screen, keyboard,buttons, etc.), a network connection 406 (e.g. connection to a casinoserver or the Internet or other communication network), a ROM 408, a RAM410, and a cash acceptance unit 412 (which can accept cash or othermethods of payment to place wagers).

Any embodiments described herein can be played with a standard deck ofcards or any type of special deck (e.g. a Spanish deck, etc.) The gamecan also be played with a single deck or multiple decks (e.g. 1-8 decksor more). Standard rules of blackjack can be used as well as any knownvariation of blackjack. Further, the order of any of the operationsdescribed herein can be performed in any order and wagers can beplaced/resolved in any order. Any embodiments herein can also be playedin electronic form and programs and/or data for such can be stored onany type of computer readable storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, disk,etc.)

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilledin the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation illustrated and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A method to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealerfor a casino, the method comprising: receiving a blackjack wager and apoker wager; dealing the player three initial player cards; allowing theplayer to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out ofthe three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select adiscard card which is a card from the three initial player cards notused in the initial blackjack hand; revealing a dealer's upcard;determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial playercards; resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable;completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack handand the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; andresolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.
 2. Amethod as recited in claim 1, wherein the poker hand comprises all ofthe initial player cards and the dealer's upcard.
 3. A method as recitedin claim 1, wherein the poker hand comprises all of the initial playercards and a dealer's card.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, whereinthe allowing is performed before the revealing.
 5. A method as recitedin claim 2, wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing.
 6. Amethod as recited in claim 3, wherein the allowing is performed beforethe revealing.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the blackjackwager and the poker wager are equal in value.
 8. A method as recited inclaim 1, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets aplayer advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has anoverall advantage.
 9. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a houseedge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on theblackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
 10. Amethod as recited in claim 3, wherein a house edge on the poker wagermore than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that thecasino has an overall advantage.
 11. A method as recited in claim 4,wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a playeradvantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overalladvantage.
 12. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a house edge onthe poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjackwager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
 13. A method asrecited in claim 6, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more thanoffsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino hasan overall advantage.
 14. A method as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising, placing, by the player, the player's initial blackjack handin a blackjack box outlined on a playing table and placing, by theplayer, the discard in a discard box outlined on a playing table.
 15. Anapparatus to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer,the method comprising: an output device; and a processing unit using theoutput device and performing: receiving a blackjack wager and a pokerwager; dealing the player three initial player cards; allowing theplayer to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out ofthe three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select adiscard card which is a card from the three initial player cards notused in the initial blackjack hand; revealing a dealer's upcard;determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial playercards; resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable;completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack handand the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; andresolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.